Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 10: 10/22

ては(かな)わない

It's unbearable when, It'd be unbearable if, I can't stand it when, I couldn’t stand it if

(A) にはかなわない is used when one is no match for (A)

Structure

Verb[られる][]+ては(1)かなわない
[い]Adjective[]+くては(1)かなわない
[な]Adjective+では(2)かなわない


(1) ちゃ
(2)じゃ

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About てはかなわない

In order to convey that something is undesirable, the grammar structure てはかなわない may be used. This combines the conjunction particle て, the adverbial particle は, and the negative form of the う-Verb (かな)う ‘to grant (a wish)’, or ‘to realize (a goal)’. This may be interpreted as ‘it’s unbearable when (A)’, or ‘I can’t stand it when (A)’. However, the literal translation is ‘it’s not a dream come true for (A)’.
When used following verbs, the (A) verb is often in the passive. This indicates that the speaker does not like being the target or victim of (A). However, standard verb structures may also be seen.
  • 明日(あした)充電器(じゅうでんき)(わす)てはかなわないから、(いま)のうちに(かばん)()れておこう。
    It’d be unbearable if I forgot my charger tomorrow, so I am going to put it in my bag right now.
  • こう(あたま)(いた)てはかなわない
    It’s unbearable when my head aches like this.
  • 息子(むすこ)竿(さお)()られてはかなわないから、()(とど)かないところに()いておこう。
    It’d be unbearable if my son breaks my fishing rod, so I am going to put it out of reach.
  • (いま)繁忙期(はんぼうき)だしこんな(とき)にやめられてはかなわない
    It’d be unbearable if they quit during peak season.
In addition to this, てはかなわない may follow the conjunctive form of い-Adjectives, or appear as ではかなわない when following な-Adjectives.
  • 電車(でんしゃ)(となり)(すわ)っている(ひと)がくさくてはかなわない
    It is unbearable when the person sitting next to you on the train smells.
  • そうあやふやではかなわない
    It’s unbearable when you are vague like that.
Caution
Although many grammar structures frequently appear in hiragana, making their original kanji hard to identify, it will be important not to mix up (かな)う ‘to grant’ with (かな)う ‘to be a match for’. Grammatically, these verbs are both used quite differently.
  • 漢字(かんじ)とくると彼女(かのじょ)にはかなわない。
    She is no match for me when it comes to kanji.

Examples

  • こう(さむ)てはかなわない

    It's unbearable when it's cold like this.

    It is possible to use てかなわない, as in 寒くてかなわない. The difference between them is like the difference between て (It's unbearable because it is cold) and ては (It's unbearable when it is cold like this). The て is not used with こう and こんなに as often as ては. The latter also has a stronger nuance of displeasure.

  • (あめ)()られてはかなわない

    I can't stand getting rained on.

    てかなわない is in general not used with verbs, but as an example, if we used it here the difference would be: て (It is unbearable as it rains (now)) and ては (It's unbearable if it rains).

  • (うえ)部屋(へや)(ひと)がうるさくてはかなわない

    It's unbearable when the people upstairs are noisy.

    In this case てかなわない would mean that the person above is noisy right now, while てはかなわない would be more general, 'if the person above is noisy, it is unbearable'.

  • (はなし)をしている(とき)非常識(ひじょうしき)なひとに邪魔(じゃま)されてはかなわない

    It's unbearable when I am interrupted by a thoughtless person when I am speaking.

  • 毎日(まいにち)こんな()(あつ)てはかなわない

    It's unbearable when it is so humid every day like this.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online


  • Offline

    • Sou Matome Bunpou N1

      Page 20

  • Track Resources!

    Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

てはかなわない – Grammar Discussion

    There's currently no discussion for てはかなわない
    Ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!